The Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris, by it Spanish acronym) informs that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified this regulatory agency of the detection of Salmonella in cantaloupe melon (Cucumis melo), processed in the State of Sonora.
In view of this situation, Cofepris established communication with the State Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks of Sonora (Coeprisson, by it Spanish acronym) to inform about the lots of melons returned from the United States, with the purpose of carrying out an intentional search by means of a verification visit to the processing company.
Likewise, the National Service of Agrifood Health, Safety and Quality (Senasica), attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader, by it Spanish acronym), was informed so that, within the scope of its competence, it can carry out the actions it considers pertinent and report the results in order to complement the strategy of attention in the national territory.
Coeprisson reported that, after two sanitary verification visits to the processing company, a safety measure consisting of a temporary suspension of activities was applied. In addition, through Senasica and with the collaboration of the State Plant Health Committee, samples of inert surfaces and water were taken and the results are expected to be reported on the origin or time of the contamination.
The FDA reported that, in the United States, several companies have made voluntary recalls of products from distributors that were involved in the marketing of contaminated cantaloupe.
Therefore, this regulatory authority carries out continuous and coordinated health surveillance actions with other institutions to prevent contaminated products from being marketed, putting the health of the population at risk.